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AUGUST 2012

"The wound is the place where the light enters you."

– Rumi

WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD SEEK FREEDOM

Members of the Ukranian women's rights group, Femen, staged a shirt-less demonstration against the International Olympic Committee near Tower Bridge in London. Police arrested four protesters. Some of the women had slogans marked on their bare chests that read 'No Sharia'.

It called on the IOC to ‘condemn violence towards women from Islamist states’. “Femen requires the states that apply the laws of sharia be shut out of the Olympic games, because of the inhumanity of these laws, which are in total contradiction with Olympic principles that are peace and philanthropy,” the group said.

“Femen accuses these states of simulating democratic changes regarding the position of women,” Femen added. “With the support of the IOC, these Islamist governments use the participation of women in the Olympic Games to hide thousands of victims and dead” it said. The Washington Post was also riled at the inclusion of women who were used by the government. Read more here and watch the video.

SIGN PETITION TO STOP REPUBLICAN VERSION OF THE VAWA

The Republican-sponsored House version of VAWA eliminates vital improvements to the Violence Against Women Act that would have a direct impact on women in college.

The House version eliminates protections for students, as well as other key parts of the proposed Senate version – including protections for Native Americans, LGBT folks, and immigrants. Currently, 20-25% of all female students in the U.S. will experience some form of sexual assault during college. This is over 1 in 5 women. And 95% of these go unreported.

The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE), introduced first in 2011 and included this year in the Senate-passed Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), is the first step in fighting this pervasive problem. Please sign the petition and advocate for the bipartisan Senate VAWA. And spread the word! Thanks to the Feminist Majority Campus Team!

THE OLYMPICS: SEXIST COMMENTARY IS THE NORM

London 2012 may be the most female-friendly Games ever—it's the first Olympics with women competing in all 26 events and with women from every country represented–but that hasn't stopped the flood of sexist commentary.In fact, as these examples of Olympic sexism imply, it may have encouraged more of it. Here are the five worst offenders thus far.
More from the Post. Let the IOC know how you feel: I.O.C.Château de Vidy, Case postale 356, 1001 Lausanne, Switzerland,
Phone+41 21 621 61 11,
Fax +41 21 621 62 16

STREET HARASSMENT—IT'S UNIVERSAL

A young film student, Sofie Peeters, documents how she is treated in the street. Sick of wondering whether it was her fault for wearing particular clothes, she made her end of year film on the topic, armed with a hidden camera to record the street harassment. Female acquaintances admitted the problem was so bad they never went out in a skirt, avoided the Metro, never made eye contact with men, avoid walking certain streets, never wore shorts and in one case, only ever left their house by bike. Read more here.

INDIAN WOMAN POSES FOR PLAYBOY

It would be nice if life were so simple. Chopra's "choice" is a false one. Her decision has an effect on all women everywhere. Public actions are not benign. If one part gets broke the whole thing is broke. (as Hushpuppy says in the film, "Beasts of the Southern Wild")

Are women willing to step out of men's pornographic world into a world where women define sexuality? Sexual repression depends on Playboy and the sex industry to thrive. If sex and nudity were not "dirty" or "nasty" but a celebration and if genders of all shapes and sizes were shown enjoying sexuality--rather than sneaking a peek through proverbial peepholes, then we might have more to discuss.

Let's not let Hefner push us into this debate when the real issues are yet to be addressed.

DO YOU WATCH LINK TV?

Link TV broadcasts programs that engage, educate and activate viewers to become involved in the world. These programs provide a unique perspective on international news, current events, and diverse cultures, presenting issues not often covered in the US media.

Link carries Democracynow.org and Al Jazeera English. The Al Jazeera Network maintains more than 70 bureaus across the world. Unlike other international channels, the Al Jazeera English broadcast shifts as the world turns, providing the most comprehensive and contextual news coverage.

Al Jazeera English’s mission is to provide independent, impartial news for a global audience and to offer a voice to a diversity of perspectives from under-reported regions. Check it out today!

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